Dugu Yan Lies to Her Face

The guest room was silent.

Xiao Cui stared blankly at her master, then rolled her eyes.

"Pfft! Do you take me for a fool?"

"Master, your innate soul power is zero; the entire fortress knows that! You can't even cultivate, yet you claim to have created a technique in your dreams? And that you had 'friction' with those young ladies?"

She curled her lip. "If you are Brother Cao, then I am a reincarnated deity!"

Cao Xiyu: "..."

Ye Lingling was also speechless. As she looked at her husband, a complex emotion welled up in her heart.

Innate soul power of zero and an inability to cultivate—this was something they had known before they were married.

For ten years, her husband had never left the Ye Family Fortress, spending his days playing the zither in harmony with her, reading, writing, and living a life away from the world's strife.

How could such a reclusive "homebody" be the mysterious powerhouse stirring up the entire continent?

"Husband," Ye Lingling sighed softly, reaching out to cover the back of Cao Xiyu's hand. "If you don't want to say it, then don't. Why make up such absurd lies?"

Watching his wife's "I know you're bragging, but I'll indulge you" expression, the corner of Cao Xiyu's mouth twitched slightly.

Why did no one believe him when he told the truth?

"I really am..." he attempted to struggle.

"Alright, alright, you are, you are." Ye Lingling patted his hand gently, as if coaxing a mischievous child. "My husband is the best. You are Brother Cao, and it was you who helped those girls improve their strength in your dreams."

Cao Xiyu: "..."

He took a deep breath and decided to stop struggling. Forget it, if they didn't believe him, so be it; he hadn't intended to make them believe him right now anyway.

One day, the truth would come to light.

Cao Xiyu looked through the window at the golden list, a profound glint flashing in his eyes.

Who would the tenth-place girl be?

He mentally calculated the figures he had "rubbed" against in his dreams, a gentle smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

No matter who made the list, they were no longer the poor souls at the mercy of fate.

They now possessed the power to control their own destinies.

That was enough.

Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

Meng Shenji, Bai Baoshan, and Zhilin were currently sitting around a sandalwood round table, their six eyes fixed on the sky, their expressions shifting through a kaleidoscope of emotions.

"Shrek... that backwater academy that doesn't even qualify for the Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Championship—someone from there actually made the list?"

Meng Shenji muttered, his voice filled with disbelief.

Bai Baoshan stroked his beard, the muscles in his face twitching. "Zhu Zhuqing... Level 89 Soul Douluo... a student of Shrek Academy... This... how is this possible? How could such a dump cultivate such a genius?"

Committee member Zhilin stood up and paced back and forth, his usually steady face filled with jealousy and resentment. "My Heaven Dou Royal Academy has the backing of the Empire, countless resources, and gathers all the geniuses! Why? Why should a backwater academy take the lead? Is this Brother Cao blind?"

The three committee members grew more agitated and bitter as they spoke.

"Wait!" Meng Shenji suddenly remembered something and turned to look at the students standing to the side. "Dugu Yan, Ya Qin, come here."

The two women stepped forward.

The first was Dugu Yan, the granddaughter of the Poison Douluo, Dugu Bo.

She had short, deep purple hair, emerald green eyes, a tall figure, and an alluring, cold beauty.

Behind her was Ya Qin, wearing a midriff-baring miniskirt with a bold and eye-catching style, possessing a high level of beauty.

Meng Shenji looked Dugu Yan up and down, his gaze filled with expectation. "Yan'er, you are the top genius of our Heaven Dou Royal Academy and the most outstanding in appearance. Have you heard of this Yin-Yang Reincarnation Technique?"

Dugu Yan frowned slightly, her tone indifferent. "Never heard of it."

"Then... have you ever seen this Brother Cao?" Bai Baoshan hurriedly pressed.

Dugu Yan shook her head. "No."

Ya Qin leaned in, her eyes flashing with longing. "Committee members, that Yin-Yang Reincarnation Technique sounds like a top-tier cultivation method. If I could practice it, maybe I could make the list too! Unfortunately... I really haven't heard of it, nor have I seen this Brother Cao."

She sighed, her face full of regret.

The three committee members exchanged glances, their eyes filled with disappointment.

"Sigh..." Meng Shenji sighed. "Forget it, forget it. Such an opportunity cannot be forced. You may go."

Dugu Yan nodded slightly and turned to leave.

However, at that very moment.

"BOOM!!!"

A brilliant golden pillar of light descended from the sky, directly enveloping Dugu Yan's tall figure!

Everyone in the hall was instantly petrified!

The teacup in Bai Baoshan's hand fell to the floor with a "crack," shattering into pieces.

Dugu Yan, who had just been saying she had "never heard of it" and "never seen it," was now bathed in golden light, a terrifying aura radiating from her entire body!

Ya Qin's mouth hung open wide enough to fit a fist; he stared blankly at Dugu Yan, who was shrouded in golden light, his mind a complete blank.

Just a moment ago... just a moment ago, the two of them had said they hadn't heard of it or seen it, yet in the blink of an eye, Dugu Yan was enveloped by golden light?

Was there not even a shred of trust left between people?

Above the firmament, golden information had already emerged:

[Genius Ranking, Tenth Place: Dugu Yan.]

[Identity: Granddaughter of Poison Douluo Dugu Bo, student of Heaven Dou Royal Academy.]

[Strength: Level 89 Soul Douluo.]

[Cultivation Technique: Yin-Yang Reincarnation Technique.]

[Reward: Domain, Jade Phosphorus Five Absolutes Domain.]

"Tenth place?" Meng Shenji finally regained his senses. "Dugu Yan is a level 89 Soul Douluo?"

"Yin-Yang Reincarnation Technique! She is also cultivating the Yin-Yang Reincarnation Technique!" Bai Baoshan pointed at Dugu Yan in the golden light, his fingers trembling. "She just said she hadn't heard of it! This... this..."

"Yan... Sister Yan..." Ya Qin stammered, his voice tinged with a hint of grievance. "You... didn't you just say you hadn't heard of it..."

Within the golden light, Dugu Yan slowly opened her eyes.

Those eyes, usually cold and glamorous, now shimmered with a complex light.

"My apologies," she said softly. "Brother Cao said to keep a low profile."

Keep a low profile...

Could one lie without blushing or skipping a beat just by keeping a low profile?

Dugu Yan, however, had no time to pay attention to his petty thoughts.

Feeling the mysterious information regarding the "Jade Phosphorus Five Absolutes Domain" that had suddenly appeared in her mind, a flash of irrepressible excitement crossed her eyes.

This domain possessed five effects: visual interference, auditory shielding, defense weakening, status decay, and soul power combustion.

It was an incredibly practical and immensely powerful domain.

Brother Cao... thank you.

In her original fate, her grandfather Dugu Bo had always stood on Tang San's side. During the great battle at Jialing Pass, in order to turn the tide of the war, he had activated his ultimate skill, "Medusa's Despair," petrifying Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo.

But the cost of this skill was immense; in the end, he had sacrificed himself heroically because his head soul bone shattered and his soul power was exhausted.

It could be said that her grandfather's help to Tang San had been significant from beginning to end, yet Tang San and his group had never saved her grandfather, nor had they even considered the idea!

Dugu Yan felt it was not worth it for her grandfather; this time, she would not let the tragedy repeat itself.

As for Yu Tianheng...